Search form

Search form

People who have fewer than 21 natural teeth face higher risk of obesity, potentially due to a reduced ability to chew healthy foods such as vegetables and fruits, according to a report in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association. Past research has linked certain oral bacteria with an increased risk of obesity.

Related Summaries

Periodontitis and gingivitis were linked to a higher risk for developing oral leukoplakia and precancerous mucosal lesions, according to research published in Oral Oncology. "Increased concentrations of inflammatory markers suggest that tissues irritated by defense processes such as periodontitis are vulnerable to premalignant transformations," the study authors wrote.

Patients should ask their dentists to check for lumps, sores, discolored tissue and other signs of oral cancer every six months, the Academy of General Dentistry says. "Treatment for advanced stage oral cancer may lead to chronic pain, loss of function, permanent facial and oral disfigurement following surgery," said AGD spokesman Dr. Seung-Hee Rhee. "The earlier the cancer is detected and treated, the better the outcome."

A study in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association revealed that people with fewer than 21 teeth had an increased risk of being obese, due in part to the limited types of foods they can eat. Another study, published in the Journal of Dental Research, found the Selenomonas noxia bacteria were present in the saliva of 98.4% of overweight participants, suggesting that such bacterial presence could be a biomarker for obesity.

A Veterans Affairs study found that bananas, apples and prunes were tied to a lower risk of lost teeth and bone loss linked to receding gums in men older than 65. Researchers reported in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society that one reason may be that high-fiber foods require more chewing, which can increase saliva that removes harmful bacteria.